Jack Reed lays foundation of England career

Reed is due to make his England debut in the Four Nations next monthBradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Jack Reed’s remarkable rise from bricklayer to the Brisbane Broncos team in 12 months continued yesterday with a pledge of allegiance to England rather than Australia.

Steve McNamara, the England coach, was delighted at having convinced Reed, 23, that he should represent the country of his birth — his family emigrated from Castleford when he was 2 — after being earmarked to represent Queensland in the Emerging State of Origin squad.

Reed is due to make his England debut in the Gillette Four Nations series next month against Wales, Australia and New Zealand, possibly as a Grand Final winner in his first NRL season, with Brisbane meeting St George Illawarra Dragons in tomorrow’s semi-final.

After being repeatedly overlooked in Australia and working in the construction…